Enduring Love

Things that end - paying off a loan, running a marathon, buying diapers, setting a morning alarm. When such things come to an end, we wonder how we endeavored to persevere. What would you do if you knew today was your last day on earth?   Would you focus less on the urgent and more on the important?  Jesus knew His time was short: His last visit to the temple; His last meal, conversation and laughter with close friends; the final time He loosed His dusty sandals.  Jesus was never distracted from His purpose for coming as the God-man. One week before His death, He told His disciples, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.” (Matthew 20:18-19).  Scripture tells us the religious leaders plotted against The Messiah, but let it be clear: Jesus wasn’t walking into a trap!  He arrived on earth on purpose with purpose; His journey to the cross didn’t begin in Bethlehem or Nazareth or Galilee.  An eternity before the forbidden fruit touched man's lips, Jesus knew Calvary was to come.  He always had the end in sight, and the great love He had for us began and sustained Him in the journey.  It’s  the same great love that endures still ... until His Redeemed (those who believe) are home with Him in Heaven.  Come on, say it with me – Oh, yes ... what a Savior!